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Department of Archaeology

 

Research

My research focuses on the built environment and material culture of Ancient Egypt and Sudan. The majority of my work has dealt with New Kingdom Egyptian material, particularly that of the late Eighteenth Dynasty.

I am currently engaged in a field project at Sesebi, Northern Sudan, co-directed with Dr Pamela Rose of the Austrian Archaeological Institute in Cairo. The site is a New Kingdom Egyptian colonial walled town with a large temple, housing a community dedicated at least in part to mining. I am also in the process of writing up fieldwork on the North Palace at Amarna.

My recent work at Amarna includes a heritage-oriented project Egypt Past and Present: Archaeological Heritage at Amarna that aims to facilitate cultural awareness and historical continuity for young audiences both in Egypt itself and internationally.

Key Publications

Key publications: 
[1] Spence K.E.(2010). Establishing direction in early Egyptian burials and monumental architecture: Measurement and the spatial link with the 'other'. I. Morley and C. Renfrew (eds.), The Archaeology of Measurement: Comprehending Heaven, Earth and Time in Ancient Societies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 170-179.
[2] Spence K.E.(2010). Settlement structure and social interaction at El-Amarna. M. Bietak, E. Czerny and I. Forstner-Müller (eds.), Cities and Urbanism in Egypt. Vienna: Wien, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften. 289-298.
[3] Spence K.E.(2009). The Palaces of el-Amarna: Towards an architectural analysis. R. Gundlach and J.H. Taylor (eds.), Egyptian Royal Residences. 4th Symposium on Egyptian Royal Ideology Egyptian Royal Residences. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. 165-187.
[4] Spence K.E.(2008). Topography, architecture and legitimacy: Hatshepsut's foundation deposits at Deir el-Bahri, T. Schneider and K. Szpakowska (eds.), Egyptian Stories: A British Egyptological Tribute to Alan B. Lloyd on the Occasion of His Retirement, Vol.347 (Alter Orient und Altes Testament.) Münster: Ugarit-Verlag. 353-372.
Other publications: 

Articles & Chapters

[1] Spence K.E. and Rose P. (2014). Fieldwork at Sesebi 2010. J. Anderson and D. Welsby (eds.), The Fourth Cataract and Beyond Proceedings of the 12th International Conference for Nubian Studies. Leuven: Peeters Pub & Booksellers. 409-416.
[2] Spence K.E., Rose P., Bradshaw P., Collet P., Hassan A., Magginnis J., Masson A. and van Pelt P. (2011). Sesebi 2011. Sudan and Nubia, 15, 34-38.
[3] Spence K.E., Sulas F. and Wynne-Jones S. (2011). Introduction. African Archaeological Review
[4] Spence K.E.(2010). The 'Hall of Foreign Tribute' (S39.2) at El-Amarna. S. Ikram and A. Dodson (eds.), Beyond the Horizon: Studies in Egyptian Art, Archaeology and History in Honour of Barry Kemp. Cairo: AUC. 497-504.
[5] Spence K.E.(2009). New fieldwork at Sesebi. Egyptian Archaeology, 35, 21-24.
[6] Spence K.E., Rose P., Bunbury J., Clapham A., Collet P., Smith G. and Soderberg N. (2009). Fieldwork at Sesebi 2009. Sudan and Nubia, 13, 38-47.
[7] Spence K.E.(2007). A contextual approach to Ancient Egyptian domestic cult: The case of the ‘lustration slabs’ at el-Amarna. D.A. Barrowclough and C.A.T. Malone (eds.), Cult in Context: Reconsidering Ritual in Archaeology. Oxford: Oxbow. 283-290.
[8] Spence K.E.(2007). Architecture. T. Wilkinson (ed.), The Egyptian World. London: Routledge. 366-387.
[9] Spence K.E.(2007). Court and palace in ancient Egypt: The Amarna period and later Eighteenth Dynasty. A.J.S. Spawforth (ed.), The Court and Court Society in Ancient Monarchies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 267-328.
[10] Spence K.E.(2004). Royal walling projects in the second millennium BC: Beyond an interpretation of defence. Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 14, 259-288. DOI: 10.1017/S0959774304230165.
[11] Spence K.E.(2004). Houses. B. Fagan (ed.), The Seventy Great Inventions of the Ancient World. London: Thames and Hudson. 61-65.
[12] Spence K.E.(2004). The three-dimensional form of the Amarna house. Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 90, 123-152.
[13] Spence K.E.(2004). Stone architecture. B. Fagan (ed.), Seventy Great Inventions of the Ancient World. London: Thames and Hudson. 66-70.
[14] Spence K.E.(2004). Early state and civilization. Antiquity, 78(302), 939-943.
[15] Spence K.E.(2003). What became of Hatshepsut?. B. Manley (ed.), The Seventy Great Mysteries of Ancient Egypt. London: Thames and Hudson. 118-121.
[16] Spence K.E.(2003). What is a pyramid for?. B. Manley (ed.), The Seventy Great Mysteries of Ancient Egypt. London: Thames and Hudson. 50-53.
[17] Spence K.E.(2003). Are the pyramids aligned with the stars?. B. Manley (ed.), The Seventy Great Mysteries of Ancient Egypt. London: Thames and Hudson. 71-73.
[18] Spence K.E.(2002). Tomb raider: The inside story of Khufu’s pyramid. TES Teacher
[19] Spence K.E.(2001). Monumental problems: Who built late Egyptian temples and why?. Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 11, 284-287. DOI: 10.1017/S0959774301290167.
[20] Spence K.E.(2001). Astronomical orientation of the pyramids. Nature, 412, 699-700. DOI: 10.1038/35089140.
[21] Spence K.E.(2000). The amazing invisible walls. Nekhen News, 12, 24.
[22] Spence K.E.(2000). Ancient Egyptian chronology and the astronomical orientation of pyramids. Nature, 408, 320-324. DOI: 10.1038/35042510.
[23] Spence K.E.(1999). The Great Temple of Abu Simbel. C.J. Scarre (ed.), The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World: The Great Monuments and How they were Built. London: Thames & Hudson. 105-107.
[24] Spence K.E.(1999). Egyptian Obelisks. C.J. Scarre (ed.), The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World: The Great Monuments and How they were Built. London: Thames and Hudson. 263-266.
[25] Spence K.E.(1999). The temples of Karnak. C.J. Scarre (ed.), The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World: The Great Monuments and How they were Built. London: Thames and Hudson. 104.
[26] Spence K.E.(1999). The pyramids at Giza. C.J. Scarre (ed.), The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World: The Great Monuments and How they were Built. London: Thames and Hudson. 21-60.
[27] Spence K.E.(1999). The Great Sphinx at Giza. C.J. Scarre (ed.), The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World: The Great Monuments and How they were Built. London: Thames and Hudson. 258-62.
[28] Spence K.E.(1999). The Colossi of western Thebes. C.J. Scarre (ed.), The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World: The Great Monuments and How they were Built. London: Thames and Hudson. 267-270.
[29] Spence K.E.(1999). The Valley of the Kings: The Tomb of Seti I. C.J. Scarre (ed.), The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World: The Great Monuments and How they were Built. London: Thames and Hudson. 56-60.
[30] Spence K.E.(1999). The Pharos of Alexandria. C.J. Scarre (ed.), The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World: The Great Monuments and How they were Built. London: Thames and Hudson. 45-47.
[31] Spence K.E.(1999). The North Palace at el-Amarna. Egyptian Archaeology, 15, 14-16.
[32] Spence K.E., Gage J., Jones A., Bradley R., Barber E. and Taçon P. (1999). Red, white and black: Colour in building stone in Ancient Egypt. Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 9, 114-117.

Publication

Reports

2020

  • Tully, G., Stevens, A., Kellawy, H., Spence, K., Kemp, B. and Reyad, FA., 2020. Tell el-Amarna Site Management Plan 2020
  • Book chapters

    2019

  • Spence, K., 2019. New Kingdom tombs in Lower and Upper Nubia
  • 2018 (No publication date)

  • Spence, KE., 2018 (No publication date). New Kingdom tombs in Lower and Upper Nubia
  • 2018

  • Spence, K., Laboury, D., Mora, P. and Vergnieux, R., 2018. New perspectives on the Gem-pa-Aten colossi (summary of talk)
  • Spence, K., 2018. The Main Temple at Sesebi: on the nature and reuse of early Amarna-period ritual architecture (summary of talk)
  • 2017

  • Spence, KE., 2017. Sesebi before Akhenaten
  • 2015

  • Spence, KE., 2015. Royal Power in New Kingdom Egypt: The Palaces and Gardens of Amarna.
  • Spence, KE., 2015. Ancient Egyptian Houses: architecture, conceptualization and interpretation
  • 2014

  • Spence, KE. and Rose, P., 2014. Fieldwork at Sesebi 2010
  • 2011 (No publication date)

  • Spence, KE., 2011 (No publication date). Air, comfort and status: interpreting the domestic features of ‘soul houses’ from Rifa
  • 2010

  • Spence, KE., 2010. Establishing direction in early Egyptian burials and monumental architecture: Measurement and the spatial link with the 'other'
  • Spence, KE., 2010. Settlement structure and social interaction at El-Amarna
  • Spence, KE., 2010. The 'Hall of Foreign Tribute' (S39.2) at El-Amarna
  • 2009

  • Spence, KE., 2009. The Palaces of el-Amarna: Towards an architectural analysis
  • 2008

  • Spence, KE., 2008. Topography, architecture and legitimacy: Hatshepsut's foundation deposits at Deir el-Bahri
  • Spence, KE., 2008. Topography, architecture and legitimacy: Hatshepsut’s foundation deposits at Deir el-Bahri
  • 2007

  • Spence, KE., 2007. A contextual approach to Ancient Egyptian domestic cult: The case of the ‘lustration slabs’ at el-Amarna
  • Spence, KE., 2007. Court and palace in ancient Egypt: The Amarna period and later Eighteenth Dynasty
  • Spence, KE., 2007. Architecture
  • 2004

  • Spence, KE., 2004. Houses
  • Spence, KE., 2004. Stone architecture
  • 2003

  • Spence, KE., 2003. Are the pyramids aligned with the stars?
  • Spence, KE., 2003. What became of Hatshepsut?
  • Spence, KE., 2003. What is a pyramid for?
  • 1999

  • Spence, KE., 1999. The Colossi of western Thebes
  • Spence, KE., 1999. Egyptian Obelisks
  • Spence, KE., 1999. The Great Sphinx at Giza
  • Spence, KE., 1999. The Great Temple of Abu Simbel
  • Spence, KE., 1999. The Pharos of Alexandria
  • Spence, KE., 1999. The pyramids at Giza
  • Spence, KE., 1999. The temples of Karnak
  • Spence, KE., 1999. The Valley of the Kings: The Tomb of Seti I
  • Journal articles

    2011

  • Spence, KE., Rose, P., Bradshaw, P., Collet, P., Hassan, A., Magginnis, J., Masson, A. and van Pelt, P., 2011. Sesebi 2011 Sudan and Nubia, v. 15
  • Spence, KE., Sulas, F. and Wynne-Jones, S., 2011. Introduction African Archaeological Review, v. Africa’s Fragile Heritages: Future Challenges
  • 2009

  • Spence, KE., 2009. New fieldwork at Sesebi Egyptian Archaeology, v. 35
  • Spence, KE., Rose, P., Bunbury, J., Clapham, A., Collet, P., Smith, G. and Soderberg, N., 2009. Fieldwork at Sesebi 2009 Sudan and Nubia, v. 13
  • 2004

  • Spence, KE., 2004. Early state and civilization Antiquity, v. 78
  • Spence, KE., 2004. Royal walling projects in the second millennium BC: Beyond an interpretation of defence Cambridge Archaeological Journal, v. 14
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1017/S0959774304230165
  • Spence, KE., 2004. The three-dimensional form of the Amarna house Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, v. 90
  • 2002

  • Spence, KE., 2002. Tomb raider: The inside story of Khufu’s pyramid TES Teacher,
  • 2001

  • Spence, KE., 2001. Astronomical orientation of the pyramids Nature, v. 412
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/35089140
  • Spence, KE., 2001. Monumental problems: Who built late Egyptian temples and why? Cambridge Archaeological Journal, v. 11
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1017/S0959774301290167
  • 2000

  • Spence, KE., 2000. The amazing invisible walls Nekhen News, v. 12
  • Spence, KE., 2000. Ancient Egyptian chronology and the astronomical orientation of pyramids Nature, v. 408
    Doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/35042510
  • 1999

  • Spence, KE., 1999. The North Palace at el-Amarna Egyptian Archaeology, v. 15
  • Spence, KE., Gage, J., Jones, A., Bradley, R., Barber, E. and Taçon, P., 1999. Red, white and black: Colour in building stone in Ancient Egypt Cambridge Archaeological Journal, v. 9
  • Internet publications

    2008

  • Spence, KE., 2008. Sesebi
  • Other publications

    2002

  • Spence, KE., 2002. Akhenaten and the Amarna period
  • Teaching and Supervisions

    Research supervision: 

    Current Students:

    Pippa Browne

    Pedro Goncalves

    Barbora Janulikova

    Rennan Lemos

    Sarah Roe

    Meghan Strong

    Hilary Stewart

    Ana Tavares

     

     

    Past Students:

    Jenna Spellane

    Paul Van Pelt

    Sarah Strange

    Kelly Accetta

    Job Titles

    Senior Lecturer in Egyptian Archaeology
    Fellow of Emmanuel College
    Director of Studies, Emmanuel College
    External Director of Studies, Christ's College and Robinson College

    General Info

    Takes PhD students
    Not available for consultancy
    Research Expertise / Fields of study: 
    Material Culture
    Built Environment
    Art and Iconography
    Environmental Archaeology, Geoarchaeology, and Landscape studies
    Egyptology and Egyptian Language

    Contact Details

    kes1004 [at] cam.ac.uk
    01223 (3)34660

    Affiliations

    Person keywords: 
    Settlement Archaeology
    Landscape
    Amarna
    Subjects: 
    Egyptology
    Themes: 
    Environment, Landscapes and Settlement
    Material Culture
    Rethinking Complexity
    Geographical areas: 
    Africa
    Egypt and Sudan
    Periods of interest: 
    Pharaonic